Bonner Scholars Continue to Serve Knox County

As the Bonner Scholars Program begins its fourth year at Union College, 15 Scholars continue to strive to make a difference in Knox County and change the world through service.

This year, the Bonner Scholars Program welcomed three new Scholars. Antonio Almeida, a sophomore from Brazil, Jennifer Fields, a sophomore from Hamilton, Ohio, and Marie Hatfield, a junior from Clairfield, Tennessee, joined the Bonner Scholars team in August.

Bonner Scholars serve approximately 9 hours in local non-profit agencies and have weekly leadership and development meetings that focus on project planning, training, and reflection. They also supply the leadership and heart to several service mainstays at the college. In exchange for their service, Bonner Scholars receive scholarship stipends to help with college costs and reduce the need for student loans.

Scholars also take educational and service trips throughout the semester. Last year, the Scholars traveled to Eagan, TN and Atlanta, GA. A number of them also attended the COOL Conference in Boston, MA, a service-learning trip to the Urban Appalachian Council in Cincinnati, OH, and Alternative Spring Break in Princeville, NC. This semester, the students will be traveling with other Union College students to Princeton, NJ and New York , NY. Three more trips are possible in the Spring semester, including mid-semester break, Alternative Spring Break, and another Bonner service trip.

Bonner Scholars are currently serving in the following agencies in the local area: Barbourville Rainbow Center, Central Center for Youth Services, Timeless Tales Reading Center, Barbourville Nursing Home, Girl Scouts, KCEOC Women's Shelter, Common Partners Office, Pentecostal Children's Home, and Knox County Conservation (USDA). In addition, the Scholars are responsible for leading service projects such as Knox County Repair Affair, Great Strides: A Walk to Cure Cystic Fibrosis, Kids on the Block Puppet Shows, Camp LEAD, and others. Current Bonner Scholars are: Antonio Almeida (Brazil), Chris Bowling (Barbourville), Karen Caldwell (Bristol, TN), Jon Causey (Smilax), Carolina Costa (Brazil), Karisha Couch (Booneville), Melissa Day (New Albany, IN), Jennifer Fields (Hamilton, OH), Lucas Green (Harlan), Malesore Hajdini (Littleton, CO), Chris Howard (Stinnett), Paulo Neto (Brazil), Michael Rinehart (Clarksville, TN), and Skyler York (Clarksville, TN).

Union College is a learning community dedicated to creating personal, intellectual, and social transformation through the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, service, and spiritual growth. Founded in 1879, the College in affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

November 19, 2001

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